Gulliver's Travels. PART III. A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, BALNIBARBI, LUGGNAGG, GLUBBDUBDRIB, AND JAPAN.

CHAPTER XI.

Amsterdam capital of the Netherlands (aka Holland). Located near the north west coast of Europe.
Amsterdam.
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[The author leaves Luggnagg, and sails to Japan. From thence he
returns in a Dutch ship to Amsterdam, and from Amsterdam to England.]

I thought this account of the struldbrugs might be some entertainment
to the reader, because it seems to be a little out of the common way;
at least I do not remember to have met the like in any book of travels
that has come to my hands: and if I am deceived, my excuse must be,
that it is necessary for travellers who describe the same country, very
often to agree in dwelling on the same particulars, without deserving
the censure of having borrowed or transcribed from those who wrote before
them.

There is indeed a perpetual commerce between this kingdom and the
great empire of Japan; and it is very probable, that the Japanese
authors may have given some account of the struldbrugs; but my
stay in Japan was so short, and I was so entirely a stranger to the
language, that I was not qualified to make any inquiries. But I hope
the Dutch, upon this notice, will be curious and able enough
to supply my defects.

red diamond Pure diamonds are without hue. However, slight impurity introduces tinge, and colored diamonds are more valued. See
Diamond.

His majesty having often pressed me to accept some employment in
his court, and finding me absolutely determined to return to my native
country, was pleased to give me his license to depart; and honoured me
with a letter of recommendation, under his own hand, to the Emperor of
Japan. He likewise presented me with four hundred and forty-four
large pieces of gold (this nation delighting in even numbers), and
a red diamond, which I sold in England for
eleven hundred pounds.

lame Disabled so that movement, especially walking, is difficult or impossible. (AHD)

Nangasac based on
Nagasaki (長崎市).
Located at one of the southen island of Japan, south of South Korea.
Google Map

On the 6th of May, 1709, I took a solemn
leave of his majesty, and all my friends. This prince was so gracious
as to order a guard to conduct me to Glanguenstald, which is a royal
port to the south-west part of the island. In six days I found a
vessel ready to carry me to Japan, and spent fifteen days in the
voyage. We landed at a small port-town called Xamoschi, situated on
the south-east part of Japan; the town lies on the western point,
where there is a narrow strait leading northward into along arm of the
sea, upon the north-west part of which, Yedo, the metropolis,
stands. At landing, I showed the custom-house officers my letter from
the king of Luggnagg to his imperial majesty. They knew the seal
perfectly well; it was as broad as the palm of my hand. The impression
was, A king lifting up a lame beggar from
the earth. The magistrates of the town, hearing of my letter,
received me as a public minister. They provided me with carriages and
servants, and bore my charges to Yedo; where I was admitted to an
audience, and delivered my letter, which was opened with great
ceremony, and explained to the Emperor by an interpreter, who then
gave me notice, by his majesty's order, “that I should signify my
request, and, whatever it were, it should be granted, for the sake of
his royal brother of Luggnagg.” This interpreter was a person
employed to transact affairs with the Hollanders. He soon
conjectured, by my countenance, that I was a European, and therefore
repeated his majesty's commands in Low Dutch, which he spoke perfectly
well. I answered, as I had before determined, “that I was a Dutch
merchant, shipwrecked in a very remote country, whence I had travelled
by sea and land to Luggnagg, and then took shipping for Japan; where I
knew my countrymen often traded, and with some of these I hoped to get
an opportunity of returning into Europe: I therefore most humbly
entreated his royal favour, to give order that I should be conducted
in safety to Nangasac.” To this I added another petition, “that for
the sake of my patron the king of Luggnagg, his majesty would
condescend to excuse my performing the ceremony imposed on my
countrymen, of trampling upon the crucifix:
because I had been thrown into his kingdom by my misfortunes, without
any intention of trading.” When this latter petition was interpreted
to the Emperor, he seemed a little surprised; and said, “he believed I
was the first of my countrymen who ever made any scruple in this
point; and that he began to doubt, whether I was a real Hollander, or
not; but rather suspected I must be a Christian. However, for the
reasons I had offered, but chiefly to gratify the king of Luggnagg by
an uncommon mark of his favour, he would comply with the singularity
of my humour; but the affair must be managed with dexterity, and his
officers should be commanded to let me pass, as it were by
forgetfulness. For he assured me, that if the secret should be
discovered by my countrymen the Dutch, they would cut my throat in the
voyage.” I returned my thanks, by the interpreter, for so unusual a
favour; and some troops being at that time on their march to Nangasac,
the commanding officer had orders to convey me safe thither, with
particular instructions about the business of the crucifix.

Amboyna Amboyna is a name for the
Ambon Island, Indonesia, which the
Ambon Massacre happened in 1623.
Ambon islands lies north of Australia, west of New Guinea, South of Philippines.
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Leyden a city in the Netherlands, about 37 km south east of Amsterdam.
Leiden.
Google Map

On the 9th day of June, 1709, I arrived at Nangasac, after a very
long and troublesome journey. I soon fell into the company of some
Dutch sailors belonging to the Amboyna, of
Amsterdam, a stout ship of 450 tons. I had lived long in Holland,
pursuing my studies at Leyden, and I spoke
Dutch well. The seamen soon knew whence I came last: they were curious
to inquire into my voyages and course of life. I made up a story as
short and probable as I could, but concealed the greatest part. I knew
many persons in Holland. I was able to invent names for my parents,
whom I pretended to be obscure people in the province of Gelderland. I
would have given the captain (one Theodorus Vangrult) what he pleased
to ask for my voyage to Holland; but understanding I was a surgeon, he
was contented to take half the usual rate, on condition that I would
serve him in the way of my calling. Before we took shipping, I was
often asked by some of the crew, whether I had performed the ceremony
above mentioned? I evaded the question by general answers; “that I had
satisfied the Emperor and court in all particulars.” However, a
malicious rogue of a skipper went to an officer, and pointing to me,
told him, “I had not yet trampled on the crucifix;” but the other, who
had received instructions to let me pass, gave the rascal twenty
strokes on the shoulders with a bamboo; after which I was no more
troubled with such questions.

Guinea A country of western Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. It was a French colony from 1898 until 1958, when it gained its independence. (AHD)
GuineaGoogle Map

Nothing happened worth mentioning in this voyage. We sailed with a
fair wind to the Cape of Good Hope, where we
staid only to take in fresh water. On the 10th of April, 1710, we
arrived safe at Amsterdam, having lost only three men by sickness in
the voyage, and a fourth, who fell from the foremast into the sea, not
far from the coast of Guinea. From Amsterdam
I soon after set sail for England, in a small vessel belonging to that
city.

On the 16th of April we put in at
the Downs. I landed next morning, and saw
once more my native country, after an absence of five years and six
months complete. I went straight to Redriff,
where I arrived the same day at two in the afternoon, and found my
wife and family in good health.

For a detailed explanation of the allusions in this chapter, see:
Gulliver's Travels And Japan: A New Reading1977 By Maurice Johnson, Kitagaki Muneharu, Philip Williams. @
http://www.jaffebros.com/lee/gulliver/moonlight/contents.html
In particular, read the introduction page:
http://www.jaffebros.com/lee/gulliver/moonlight/intro.html